Isaiah Crowell: Former Georgia RB Absolutely Needs This Second Chance

When the news popped regarding Isaiah Crowell's gun possession charges, we made it pretty clear that we expected to see the young man resurface relatively quickly, depending upon how the court situation played out. Thus, it was no surprise when The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Crowell would be enrolling at Alabama State to play ball this season.

Good for him, he's got an opportunity to still be in school, play ball and ultimately push for success, on and off the field.

Unfortunately, some folks, like Matt Hayes of Sporting News, don't see things in that same fashion. In his recent piece on Crowell, Hayes lets us know that he is not rooting for Crowell's redemption. He does not wish the young man the best. He does not hope that he gets over the immaturity and poor decision-making that got him dismissed at Georgia.

Hayes, in Tuesday's article at SportingNews.com, makes his opinion quite clear: Crowell should not be allowed to play college football.

In a well-spun article, Leonard Little and Donte Stallworth's manslaughter cases come up, as does Janoris Jenkins' move to North Alabama after his Florida troubles. Hayes paints a picture of Crowell's second chance coming at the expense of a generation:

"

“This is basically an opportunity for (Crowell) to restore his credibility,” [Alabama State head coach Reggie] Barlow said.

And to further damage a generation of kids.

"

There are likely people who will agree wholeheartedly with Hayes. He wisely lumps every given chance into the same category and mentions popular bad guys like Terrelle Pryor and everyone's newest person to dislike: No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche.

Them boys are getting too big for their britches in college football. They need to be taught a lesson. It is a privilege, not a right. 

Yeah, I've heard all that before, and when you lump as many situations together as possible, it paints an overwhelming picture of what should be viewed as a case-by-case situation.

In this most recent case, we have Isaiah Crowell. The kid came into Georgia with a not-so-great attitude, as former Georgia coach Vince Dooley points out in the Detroit Free Press (h/t USA Today). But he's also a kid with no prior issues, no legitimate screw-ups or a history that points to him being a violent criminal.

As his court date approaches, we'll see what happens with the gun charges. He's not the first player charged with having a gun on campus. How the courts handle the serial number situation will be interesting.

That said, the young man has a shot to get his life right. He is taking a different path than he originally planned—going to an FCS school after being at the top of the heap requires self-discipline, personal drive and determination to keep pushing oneself. However, like Ryan Perrilloux, who was dismissed from LSU, the kid has a shot, and he's going to have to put in the work to get the results he wants.

Second chances are invaluable. They give you the opportunity to redeem yourself—not only to the people who doubt you, but also to yourself. Redemption is not necessarily a right, but it is a benefit that comes with having a valuable set of skills.

Perhaps the fact that I was raised by educators is why the idea of just throwing a kid away because of a screw-up does not sit well with me. Ball-players, like every other young adult, go through life and they make mistakes. Some are big, some small, but all provide opportunities to learn a lesson.

While some folks would have a kid like Crowell thrown away, I'd argue for him to get another shot more often than not.

Crowell clearly needs the discipline, the camaraderie with his teammates and the work ethic that comes along with being a part of the team. No, it is not his right, but it is an environment that can help him grow.

Like many players before him, Crowell lost the great opportunity to be a ball-player at the elite collegiate level where equipment was nice, tutors were plentiful and stadiums were packed. Thus, he is going to be given a dose of reality. He will be faced with less-than-full stadiums, no SportsCenter highlight reels and no nationally-televised games.

Crowell's biggest moment will be the Magic City Classic, a great game for the Hornets, but not nearly as nationally relevant as The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. However, Crowell still has a shot at restoring credibility, and that is something of which I can certainly stand in favor.